Ron Cummings
Mason Conservation District
(360) 427-9436 x12
ron@masoncd.org
Growing consumer demand for locally grown, humanely-raised, organic and/or pastured meat creates new opportunities for small-scale poultry producers. Careful planning and a good understanding of the regulations surrounding the processing, handling, and marketing of poultry meat is essential. With the proper license or permit, a producer can sell his or her poultry meat to retail outlets such as restaurants, grocery stores, and farmers markets, or straight from the farm.
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POULTRY PROCESSING EQUIPMENT LENDING PROGRAM
The Mason County Small Farms Program operates a Poultry Processing Equipment Lending Program (PPELP). For $25 per day, you can borrow a scalder, plucker, and kill cones to process your own birds. Whether you are processing birds for your own consumption or for commercial sale, this equipment is available to producers in Mason and surrounding counties.
For more information about the program, you can click HERE for the information packet or contact Ron Cummings at (360) 427-9436 x12 or ron@masoncd.org
Here is a list of other processing equipment lending programs:
Thurston County & Surrounding Counties
Thurston Conservation District: Tumwater, WA
(360) 754-3588
tcd@thurstoncd.com | www.thurstoncd.com
Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, & Whatcom Counties
Northwest Agriculture Business Center | Mt. Vernon, WA
(360) 336-3727 or (888) 707-2021
info@agbizcenter.org | www.agbizcenter.org
Whatcom County
Whatcom Pastured Poultry Group | Bellingham, WA
(360) 384-4821
maczuga@clearwire.net
Benton County & Surrounding Counties
CG Ranch | Benton City, WA
(509) 723-1621
russstaska@netscape.net
Pierce County & Surrounding Counties
Pierce Conservation District | Puyallup, WA
(253) 845-9770 x104 or x 112
www.piercecd.org/poultryprocess.html
Kitsap County
Kitsap Poultry Growers Cooperative | Silverdale , WA
You must be a member of the cooperative to use the equipment
rental@kitsappoultry.com | www.kitsappoultry.com/equipment-rental/
POULTRY PROCESSING REGULATIONS IN WASHINGTON STATE
Poultry processing in the United States is regulated by the Federal Poultry Products Inspection Act. This includes chicken, geese, duck, turkey and other domesticated birds raised for meat.
In Washington State, there are currently two ways that small-scale poultry producers may be exempted from this Act. One is the WSDA Special Poultry Permit and the other is by getting a WSDA Food Processors License.
Please click HERE to link to the FACT SHEET: Washington State Poultry Processing Regulations. This publication will help you select and obtaining the proper licenses and permits to slaughter and sell your own poultry.
POULTRY PROCESSING VIDEO
The following video was made during a Hands On Poultry Processing Workshop in the Summer of 2009. These workshops were funded by a grant from Heifer International. They were part of a larger project called, ‘Realizing the Potential for Pastured Poultry in Local Food Systems’. The group that managed this grant project consisted of individuals from Mason Conservation District, WSDA Small Farms & Direct Marketing Program, and The Evergreen State College Organic Farm. The video was produced by Doug Collins, WSU Puyallup. The purpose of these workshops were to encourage local producers to acquire the skills necessary to process their own poultry and procure the proper licenses to sell those poultry commercially.
PLEASE NOTE: This footage contains scenes of the humane slaughter of chickens. All precautions were taken to ensure the safety and humane treatment of both the animals and the humans participating in this process.
Click HERE to see the Video.
Here is a link to several videos on the Featherman Equipment Website: http://www.featherman.net/videodemos.html
EGGS
Eggs are a popular item to direct market and are a relatively easy enterprise to begin. Flocks under 3,000 hens are USDA grade exempt and fall under state law. Washington egg sales are specified in the “Washington wholesome eggs and egg products act,” RCW 69.25. An “egg” refers to the shell egg of chickens, turkeys, ducks,geese, guinea fowl and any other species of poultry.
For information about regulations for selling eggs in Washington State, click HERE to link to the WSDA Small Farm & Direct Marketing Handbook chapter on selling eggs.
POULTRY RESOURCES
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association:
www.apppa.org
Chicken Tractor Designs:
www.puyallup.wsu.edu/soilmgmt/SusAg_PoultryCages.htm
Featherman Video Demos:
www.featherman.net/videodemos.html
National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service:
www.attra.ncat.org
Niche Meat Processors Assistance Network:
www.nichemeatprocessing.org
Sustainable Poultry:
www.sustainablepoultry.ncat.org
WSDA Food Safety Program:
http://agr.wa.gov/FoodAnimal/FSP/
WSDA Organic Food Program:
http://agr.wa.gov/FoodAnimal/Organic/
WSDA Small Farms and Direct Marketing Program: http://agr.wa.gov/Marketing/SmallFarm/
Washington State University Small Farms:
www.smallfarms.wsu.edu/animals/poultry.html
Washington State University Organic Farming Systems & Nutrient Management, Pastured Poultry:
www.puyallup.wsu.edu/soilmgmt/SusAg_PasturedPoultry.htm
WSDA Small Farm & Direct Marketing Handbook:
www.agr.wa.gov/Marketing/SmallFarm/directmarketinghandbook.aspx